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Sublingual Absorbtion
Cannabis Health Journal | by David Faren. David has a B.G.S. and is undertaking a clinical research project with a cannabis based topical medication designed to support an application for a Natural Health Product number (NHP). This project is part of an independent study for credit at Athabasca University.

The usual methods of consuming cannabis like smoking, and to a lesser extent eating, have drawbacks when use is considered. Smoking is, of course, undesirable in hospitals and many other settings medical users may find themselves in when a dose is needed. For those experiencing pain following surgery, coughing would only exacerbate the symptoms. The choice of eating a cannabis baked goodie or swallowing a tincture would be a poor one if rapid results are desired. Eating cannabis has other problems. Absorption is highly variable, depending on the health of the gastro-intestinal tract, other foods recently eaten and the emotional state of the patient at the time of consumption. While these more traditional methods of consumption will likely continue to be the preferred method for many people, the need for other delivery modes will likely continue to grow.

A third alternative, sublingual absorption, avoids these problems. Sublingual preparations can take several forms; tinctures, lozenges and tablets. Cannabinoids can be delivered via the first form, and may be deliverable via the other two forms as well. I currently have a tincture that is very effective. It is easily titrated by the patient, has a rapid onset and avoids many of the intoxicating effects at the currently recommended dosage. Although a typical dose is 4 to 6 drops, some achieve reliable results with as little as one drop. Effects can be felt within seconds to a few minutes, allowing the dose to be assessed in five to ten minutes.

I believe the sublingual preparation delivers the cannabinoids in a reliable and convenient form and answers all the concerns Health Canada as about using cannabis as a medicine. I propose developing and executing any needed research supporting an NHP application. Given the extensive research on cannabis already there, it may be possible to place sublingual drops on the market relatively quickly.

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reggie_the_dog

they said "The usual methods of consuming cannabis like smoking, and to a lesser extent eating, have drawbacks when use is considered". They just casually forget to mention vaporizers, of course that would still allow the raw plant to be used and would cut big pharm out of the profits....that has nothing to do with ignoring vaporizers.........

Cassius

The biggest reason they stated as a drawback for smoking, that it wouldn't be feasible in hospitals and similar situations, would apply to vaporizing as well.

bakari

Vaporising does not produce smoke, it produces vapors, hence the term VAPORisng. For the naysayers who say vapors may as well be smoke, all you'd have to do is exhale into a vacuum (sp?) tube, kinda like the one your dentist uses to suck the saliva out of your mouth. I'm sure the hospital would be more than happy to let your insurance pay for the use of that machine.

Cassius

If you can exhale the vapor into a vacuum machine, you could exhale smoke into as well. If smoke isn't allowed, vapor won't be either. If vapor is allowed, smoke will be too. There's no other way around it, because EITHER WAY you have to exhale a gas.

cassiusclay

Exhaled vapor has virtually no smell. I believe I could vaporize in the LEO men's room and be safe on the smell thing.

This personal experience leads me to believe that exhaled vapor (created at the lowest possible temp of course) would be no more toxic than the exhaled gases of the other many sick people in the hospital. Perhaps even less so in some cases.

I would like to get a gas test result on exhaled vapor produced at the lowest possible temperature required to vaporize cannabis. I would think that if the hospital has modern HVAC that it would be no problem, especially in a private room or designated area.